SEC West scenarios: A trip to Atlanta is still on the line during Rivalry Week
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Just as expected, an SEC West champion will not determined until the last games of the regular season are played on Saturday. Everyone has a pretty good idea of who it will be, but if there’s anything history has taught you about the Iron Bowl you’ll know that it ain’t over until the game clock says it’s over.
Two teams still remain in the running for top spot in the SEC West. Let’s take a look at what needs to happen for each one to win the division:
ALABAMA WILL WIN THE SEC WEST IF…
They beat Auburn, and that’s it. With a 2-5 conference record (6-5 overall), Auburn could be the weakest SEC opponent Alabama has faced all season. But the Tide should be cautious about getting overconfident. If something were to go wrong, if some freak-accident final play that many a top team has succumbed to this year were to take place, it all could end at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
OLE MISS WILL WIN THE SEC WEST IF …
By the time the Egg Bowl kicks off on Saturday night, the Iron Bowl should be almost over. That means Ole Miss will have an idea as to whether or not they still have a shot at making the SEC Championship Game.
Rebels fans will most likely spend the first part of Saturday cheering fervently for the Auburn Tigers. If Auburn is able to pull off the upset of the season, Ole Miss’ last regular season game against in-state foe Mississippi State takes on a whole new meaning. If the Rebels win, the two teams will finish with identical 6-2 records in the conference. Ole Miss holds the tiebreaker thanks to its 43-37 win over Alabama back in September.
So while Alabama controls its own destiny, Ole Miss is only two rivalry games away from stealing Atlanta right out from under Alabama’s feet.
Only one thing’s for sure: The SEC West certainly kept things interesting for us right down to the end.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
